Seoul, South Korea's comeback win over Czechia should have been one of the biggest talking points on the second day of the FIFA World Cup. Instead, attention quickly shifted to the large number of empty seats inside the stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico. The match ended with South Korea fighting back to claim a 2-1 victory, but television cameras repeatedly showed noticeable gaps in the stands, especially in premium sections.
The scenes raised fresh questions about ticket sales just one day after FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the tournament had received an unprecedented 500 million ticket requests. FIFA said 44,985 fans attended the match in the 45,664-capacity stadium, yet the visible empty seats created a different picture. The issue added to a difficult opening day for FIFA, which was already dealing with protests and unrest outside Mexico City's Azteca Stadium during the tournament opener between Mexico and South Africa.
Gianni Infantino Faces Ticket Demand Questions During South Korea vs Czechia World Cup Match
The attendance debate has become a major talking point early in the tournament. FIFA has recently reduced ticket prices across all 104 matches to attract more supporters to games in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Even so, fans have continued to criticize prices, with some group-stage tickets reportedly costing more than $300.
Speaking in April, FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the ticketing process and said: “You've heard, there were many discussions about the ticketing of the World Cup. We had 500 million ticket requests — 500 million ticket requests. In the last two World Cups together, we had 50 million ticket requests. Here, 500 million.”
Meanwhile, South Korea recovered from an early setback and defeated Czechia 2-1, but the result was overshadowed by the attendance discussion.
Shakira Headlines Azteca Stadium Ceremony While Protests Hit Mexico City
The World Cup began with a packed crowd of 83,264 at Azteca Stadium, where Mexico beat South Africa 2-0. The opening ceremony featured Shakira, Andrea Bocelli, Ejae, J Balvin, Tyla, Belinda, Alejandro Fernandez, Mana, Lila Downs, Danny Ocean, and Los Angeles Azules. FIFA ambassador Salma Hayek officially opened the tournament.
Outside the stadium, protests and clashes created tense scenes. Demonstrators highlighted issues including missing persons and labor conditions. Authorities also dealt with attempts by some people to enter venues without tickets. In the United States, many viewers criticized Fox for not showing Shakira's full performance, while Telemundo aired the ceremony.
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